Hose-support.



J. W. PITZ GERALD.

HOSE SUPPORT.

APPLICATION nun JULY a1, 1000.

936,438. Patented Oct. 12, 1909.

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JAMES W. FITZ GERALD, OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

HOSE-SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12, 1909.

Application filed July 31, 1908. Serial No. 446,339.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W'. Frrz GER- ALD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Savannah, in the county of Ohatham and State ofGeorgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inHose-Supports, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to hose supports, and more particularly to devicesof this character which are adapted to suspend the hose from theceilings or walls of a suitable structure.

Considerable difficulty has been experienced 011 boats, in fire houses,and public places in the manipulation of hose when the immediate use ofthe same is desired. For example, when the hose is retained in a rack ordistended on the floor or the like of any given place it is subjected torough usage, and in the case of a panic the crew or other attendants areunable to handle it freely.

My invention therefore contemplates the elimination of these and otherdisadvantages, which will be apparent, and the provision of a hosesupport which will adapt the hose for instantaneous use, the hose beting supported overhead and distended either at an inclination or in ahorizontal position.

To the accomplishment of the recited objects and others coordinatetherewith, preferred embodiment of the invention resides in thatconstruction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustratedin the accompanying drawings, and embraced within the scope of theappended claim.

In said drawings :Figure I is a perspective View of the completesupport. Fig. II is a perspective view of the upper jaw member. Fig. IIIis a perspective view of the lower jaw and shank portion of the device,and Fig. IV is a detail perspective view of the latch.

Similar reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

Generally speaking, my invention comprises a stationary jaw (l), arelatively movable jaw (2), and a latch (3), carried by the former forlocking the two jaws to gether. The stationary jaw (1) is preferably ofsemi-cylindrical contour having a bearing (4:) which projects laterallya slight distance to each side of the body portion of said jaw (1), oneterminal being slightly enlarged as at (5), and provided with atransversely extending bore or aperture ((3) the opposite terminal beingrabbeted to present arcuate shaped shoulders (7) and a medially arrangedsubstantially elliptical shaped projection (8), with a transverselyextending aperture (9). The stationary jaw has integrally formedtherewith a shank portion (10).

The movable aw (2) comprises in its construction a bifurcated member,the members (11) and (12) constituting the bifurcations, being divergentfrom the front to the rear portion to define a maximum supportingsurface and longitudinally ribbed as at (13) and being distally enlargedas at (1 1), the latter portions being provided with apertures (15),which, when the movable jaw (2) is placed in pro or relative position tothe stationary jaw 1), are in exact alinement or registration with thetransversely extending aperture (6) of the portion of the latter aw, thepin (16) being inserted through the apertures of this assemblage tomaintain a pivotal connection. The other extremital portion of themovable jaw is dis posed at right angles to the movable jaw proper, asat (17) and thus provides a lip or engaging surface for the latch Thelatch or looking member is provided on its upper terminal with aponderous spherical shaped portion (18), the lower terminal portionbeing bifurcated and comprising substantially oval shaped portions (19)which are provided with apertures (20) and adapted to be placed in exactregistration with the aperture (9) of the projection (8) and securelyfastened thereto by the pin (21), the central portion of said latchbeing provided on one side, approximately the center thereof, with aprojection (22), which considered conjunctively with the inclined sidesof the portion (19) affords a cooperative locking surface with themember (17) of the movable jaw.

In use, and assuming that a series of the hose supports are secured tothe wall so as to project laterally therefrom, the movable jaw (2) isthrown open and the hose inserted between said jaw and the stationaryjaw (l), whereupon the movable jaw is oscillated until the beveledportion of the lip (17 thereof engages the underface of the normallyinclined latch (3) the latter, owing to the preponderancy of thespherical portion (18), gravitating and engaging the said lip at In thislocked position the weight of the hose will exert considerable pull onthe movable jaw and thereby tend to lock both jaws more securely andpositively. The divergent bifurcations of the movable jaw provide orinsure an equal distribution of the supporting strength of said arm, inother words, compensate, in an economical way for the slight eliminationof metal by having the bifurcations thereof diverging from the forwardto the rear end and providing the same with longitudinally extendingreinforcing ribs. It will also appear evident with the employment of thegravitating latch that any manual adjustment or manipulation of thelocking means is unnecessary.

While I prefer to arrange the supports in series and at a slightinclined relation to a given wall to secure proper drainage of the hoseit is obvious that the same may be disposed horizontally from the wallor vertic'ally from the ceiling, or in any other position thatconvenience dictates.

My invention involves simplicity of construction and facility ofoperation, and consequently can be manufactured and marketed at acomparatively low cost.

It should be understood that in its broader aspect the inventioncomprehends the en'ip'loyi'nent not only of the various means described,but of equivalent means for performing the recited functions. WVhile thearrangement shown is thought, at the present time, to be preferable, itis desired to reserve the right to effect such modifications andvariations thereof as may come fairly within the scope of the appendedclaim. I

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, is

A device of the character described com prising a stationary jaw, amovable bifurcated jaw the members of which are hinged to one end of thestationary jaw, an outstanding latching lip extending transverselyacross the free end of the movable jaw, and :1 latch hinged to thestationary jaw and provided with a counterweighted head and anintermediate outstanding projection adapted to engage with theoutstanding lip of the movable jaw. V 7

In testimony whereof I hereunto afIiX my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES IV. FITZ GERALD.

lVitnesses W. H. Munnoon, FRANK G. BELL.

